Spring-wheel.



J.- J. COLLINS.

SPRING WHEEL. nrmuuron nun NOV. 1, 1 900.

wueuioz n Collins Joh Patented Apr. 13, 1909.

in s

JOHN J. oo LINs, or CLEMO, PENNSYLVANIA.

Specificataen 01: Letters Patent.

:- resented April '13, 1909.

Application me anavembe 1,1906. serial no, 341,620.

T all whom it may concern: I 1

l 3e it known that I, JOHN J. COLLINS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Clemo, in the county of Wayne andState of 4 5 Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and I do declarethe following to e a full,

and useful Improvementsin Sprin -Wheels;

clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others the art to 0 which it appertains to, malge End use the same. p 4 I l This invention relates to the class of wheels havmg yieldable tires, and more particularly to whee s for usein conne'ction Wltll. automobiles and like vehicles, but which may also be employed in connection with other classes of vehicles, and has for itsobject to simplify and improve the. construction and increase the efiiciency andutility of devices, of this character. f I

ln'the accom termin a part of this spec ificationand-in which COI' TG- sponding parts are-denotedbdesignat--- ing characters, is illustr .25

thea Yipreferred form of the embodimentfi e invention c'a pable of carrying the same ntd practical op eratlon.

In thefldrawings aside are;

- tion, partly in ',=ofawheel embodying.

the improved structure. Fi '2' is a' section, enlarged on theliii i'g-Zof l ig. .1. lFi .3.,.is a section, enlarged, on the line 3530f, ig. 1. .The improved devicelcomprises an outer rim or tirejan inner wheel structure comprising a hub, spokes, and :rim, .a plurality of s disposed between the tire and rim of plates are wheel structure, and clam ranged on op osite sides ofthe tire and overla ping and s 'dable on the or felly of the wl ieel structure. l

"The tire structure of the device is f'ormed of a single annular member lO, U-shaped in transverse section, and preferably composed of compressed steel, or other suitable mateprovided at suitable interlalsfwith rial, and SlOtSill. r i 1 r The wheel structure-isofconsiderably less diameter--than the ti're"and consists of the hub-12, rim or folly-13, and spokes 14 of any their inner ed es ov the former, and

suitable intervals with transversely alining clamp screws 20 larged heads bearing a proved structure, the diameter of the felly; oi the wheel being sufficiently less'than the diameter of the armuar tire to leave -a:relatively large space between the two, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

Disposed upon .the'outer sides of the tire member 10 are clap/exp plates 15, 16, with a fappin the outer portion of the fe y 13., to comp etely cover the space between the felly 13 and the tire 10 to prevent the entrance of dirt and dust which would tend to fill thespaee between the tire and felly and prevent the free movement of provided. respectively at apertures 17 18, these a? ertures being preferably square or of "0t er angular shape. The a ,ertures 17, 18, arearranged to register with t e slots of the tire so that connecting devices may be extended through the apertures'and the slots-to secure the plates 15, 16 in pos on rela i e t the i e These ei es, s hawn, consi t: Qt. bo ts 9,- efer ably tubular, with correspon ing to and adapted to squarely, engage thc apertures 17, 18, so that when in ,osition, the bolts 19 will not rev lve. The olts are internally threadedqa their ends to receive the latter having engaihst the outer faces of the lates 15, 16, j'lhe tires are thus movable rdlatively to'thebolts 19,- any required number of which'and the corres ending slots 11 and apertures 17, 18;, may be employed,

butfor an'ordinjary sized wheel, 8 sets of the bolts and ftheiiitassociated apertures and slots will be employed.

Sprmgs-22 a efdisposed within the hollow tire l0 and beltween the tire and the felly 13 between each-pair of the bolts 19, the outer ends of the' 'springs being preferably coupled to the tire by clamp screws 23. Any number of the springs may be employed, but generally one s ring'willzbe used between each.

pair of the ,oltsj indicated. The springs will be. of su'flicient strength to support the tire against compression under ordinary conditions, but will yield and roduce a cushionin' efie'ct, aswillbe' o vious when subjecte to abnormal ressure when the vehicle is heavily loade the the being res1lient 7 moves radially to' the wheel; in the same manner as does a pneumatic tire.

, In the use of this wheel, the tire may be compressed against the tension of its sprlngs than coul 1;; sliding between the plates 15 and 16 until the outer walls of the slots 11 come in contact with the bolts 19 and said bolts with the plates through which they pass are pressed toward the hub, as shown by the arrows in Fig. 2. Under ordinary conditions, the pressure on the tire causes it.to .slide between the plates 15 and 16 a predetermined distance and when extraordinary conditions arise, such as heavy or unusual loading of a vehicle the outer walls of the. slots 11 coming in contact with the bolts 19 erinit the tire to be further compressed y forcing the plates inward on the tellyl 13-, the space between the edges 10 and t e'periphery of the telly permitting this sliding action .to take place. When the obstruction or weight is removedfrom the tire, the springs 22 force it outward again into normal position This construction provides for the use of much narrower (plates for the given movement be used if the tires only were made to slide within the plates thereby ren 'dering the wheel much lighter.

' The device is simple in construction, strong and durable, and may be mex enslvely manufactured and applied to whee s having various forms of fellies.

Wh1le the device is more particularly designed for use 1n connection with the heavier class of automobiles, auto trucks or freight vehicles,it will also be of equal efficiency when emfployed in connection with the other classes 0 vehicles, such as carriages,- buggies, and the'like.

Having thus described the invention, what ping said felly, clamping devices secured at the ends of said plates and extending through said slots, and a pluralityof springs bearin between said tire and felly. t

2. T e combination with a vehicle wheel, including a telly, of a tire U-shaped in cross section and provided with spaced slots,an- 1 nular clamp plates bearing upon the sides of said. tire member and overlapping and slid able on said telly, clam ing devices secured at the en-ds of said ates'and extending through said slots an 'slidable therein, and a plurality of springs secured at one end within said tire and bearing by their inner ends upon said telly.

In testimony whereof l. have hereunto setmy hand inpresence otvtwo subscribing witnesses. i JOHN J. COLLINS. Witnesses:

RoB'r. J. MURRAY, P ILIP R. MURRAY. 

